Post-independence History of Penang

1 post-independence

1.1 1957 - 1969
1.2 1970 - 2000
1.3 2001 - present

post-independence
1957 - 1969

penang s political landscape after independence of malaya became relatively fractured. new penang state government dominated alliance coalition (now succeeded barisan nasional), same ruling coalition controlled malayan federal government. wong pow nee of malaysian chinese association (mca), 1 of major component parties of alliance, became penang s first chief minister, position held until 1969. on other hand, labour party, left-wing opposition party, took control of george town city council after malayan independence. penang s voters tended leave control of state government in hands of alliance, while consistently electing labour party run city council.

at time, george town city council fully-elected local authority in malaya, country s richest, annual revenue double of penang state government 1965. solidified financial autonomy of city council, led labour politicians, both state government , malayan federal government, dominated alliance. city council utilised financial resources massive public infrastructure projects, such construction of public housing @ various parts of george town, , provision of healthcare facilities , public transportation. meanwhile, penang state government attempted boost state s manufacturing sector opening new industrial estates in seberang perai, such in perai , mak mandin. exacerbated opposing political affinities , ideologies, conflicts arose between state government , city council on differences in policies , budget allocations.

as guaranteed british authorities, george town s free port status untouched in years after malayan independence. earlier fears secessionists came true, however, when in 1969, free port status revoked malaysian federal government. result, 16.4% of penang s working population became unemployed, port of penang s trade volume plumetted, adversely affecting george town s services sector. in long run, marked beginning of george town s slow, decades-long decline, reversed.

the revocation of george town s free port status, coupled unsuccessful, bloody strike penang s unions in 1967, led loss of popular support alliance amongst penangites. during 1969 state elections, gerakan, opposition party, voted power in penang, replacing alliance. party s founder, lim chong eu, succeeded wong pow nee chief minister of penang. however, violent race riots in kuala lumpur following concurrent malaysian general elections led nationwide imposition of martial law , functions of penang state government taken on national operations council until 1971.

1970 - 2000

completed in 1985, penang bridge longest bridge in southeast asia.

in 1973, gerakan joined barisan nasional, returning penang state government hands of ruling coalition.

to revive penang s economy, lim chong eu created bayan lepas free trade zone , courted foreign multinational corporations investments. pioneer tax status granted multinational firms seeking establish assembly plants within bayan lepas, formerly rice bowl of penang. major electronic , engineering firms, including motorola, bosch, hewlett-packard , hitachi, flocked in, setting assembly plants within area. complemented cheap labour, bayan lepas free industrial zone, 1 of major electronics manufacturing zones in asia, grew become silicon valley of east , instrumental in pulling penang out economic slump, propelling state s economy 1 of main economic powerhouses within malaysia. day, manufacturing remains 1 of penang s 2 largest economic sectors, contributing as 47.4% of penang s gdp of 2015.

constructed in 1974, komtar tower in george town penang s tallest skyscraper.

during lim s tenure, several major infrastructure projects completed. penang bridge, longest bridge in southeast asia, completed in 1985, providing first time road link between penang island , malay peninsula. more controversial 250 m (820 ft)-tall komtar in george town, day tallest skyscraper in penang. launched in 1974 part of vision reverse george town s declining fortunes, komtar constructed in expense of hundreds of shophouses, schools , temples, whole streets, bulldozed project. however, instead of arresting george town s decline, komtar became white elephant 2000s.

on other hand, throughout 1970s , 80s, malaysian federal government proceeded rapid development of kuala lumpur , nearby port klang controlling investments in communication, transport, education , health. kuala lumpur outstripped george town malaysia s largest city , financial centre, while port klang became country s busiest seaport. consequently, penang began suffer considerable brain drain younger penangites started emigrating better employment opportunities. within penang, residents of george town began moving out newly developed industrial areas, such bayan lepas south, similar reasons, leading gradual hollowing out of george town , contributing city s decline. meanwhile, in 1974, port of penang relocated city town of butterworth, directly across penang strait, allow berthing of larger container , cargo vessels.

george town s decline further aggravated when in 1976, george town city council merged penang island rural district council form penang island municipal council. sparked decades-long debate on george town s city status, although george town s city status has never been officially revoked ever since. @ same time, 5 local authorities within seberang perai, including butterworth , bukit mertajam town councils, merged seberang perai municipal council. then, local elections, suspended since 1965, became thing of past, municipal councillors being appointed penang state government.

in 1990 state elections, lim chong eu incumbent lost padang kota constituency dap s lim kit siang, forcing him retirement. although barisan nasional remained in power, lim chong eu succeeded koh tsu koon chief minister of penang.

2001 - present

in 2004, widespread dissatisfaction decline of penang has led media campaign return penang former glory. challenges faced government include urban renewal of inner george town has seen population , commercial activities dwindling since repeal of rent control act in 2000, job creation.

penang suffered damage 2004 indian ocean tsunami, though nothing in scale of neighbouring acheh- incurring of 68 lives lost in malaysia, picnickers , fishermen. 1,600 people evacuated. economically, fisheries , aquaculture worst-hit sectors, losses in order of tens of millions of ringgit.

in 2015, penang island whole accorded city status malaysian government. thus, george town city in malaysia have been conferred city status twice, first british monarch, , later malaysian government.